A little boy went running down the halls toward his parent’s room, his father trailing behind him. He burst through the door and found his mother crying in a fetal position on the bed. The boy’s father swept him into his arms and closed the door before carrying the child with him to the bench swing on the back patio. She didn’t like crying in front of people, and today— she needed to cry.
“Why is mommy crying?” the boy asked, concerned.
“Because she is sad,” his father replied.
“Why is she sad?” the boy continued.
“Because she misses grandpa, son,” he explained.
The boy thought for a moment, “cause she can’t see him any more?”
“Because she misses grandpa, son,” he explained.
The boy thought for a moment, “cause she can’t see him any more?”
“That’s right.”
He scrunched his face and looked down for a moment before he looked back up at his father and asked,
“How long will it hurt?”
The man took a long draw of breath, looking up at the stars. Then, he turned toward the boy and answered,
“always, always.”
- - - - -
I lead a generally happy life. Do not misunderstand, however, I’ve never been one of those naturally peppy, all-smiles-all-the-time sort of people. It has taken considerable work for me to learn how to take responsibility for my own happiness and to actively create a life in which I find meaning and purpose and beauty. And yet, no matter how hard I try or how much space I put between me and my past, I can’t seem to entirely escape the pain there.
He scrunched his face and looked down for a moment before he looked back up at his father and asked,
“How long will it hurt?”
The man took a long draw of breath, looking up at the stars. Then, he turned toward the boy and answered,
“always, always.”
- - - - -
I lead a generally happy life. Do not misunderstand, however, I’ve never been one of those naturally peppy, all-smiles-all-the-time sort of people. It has taken considerable work for me to learn how to take responsibility for my own happiness and to actively create a life in which I find meaning and purpose and beauty. And yet, no matter how hard I try or how much space I put between me and my past, I can’t seem to entirely escape the pain there.
Recently, I was reminded of this when my old faith tradition, the LDS Church, issued a new policy regarding LGBT people and their children. Even years after being done with the church, the news hurt in a way I was unprepared for. Not only was it a sharp reminder of the rejection and abandonment by my faith community, it showed blatant disregard for the pain that I and so many others have endured at the hands of the Church.
I’ve been trying hard to forgive the institution because I don’t want to feel victimized my entire life— I don't think it is productive and I think it gives the offender power over me. It has proven difficult to do, however, when pain is still being inflicted. As I’ve thought about this dilemma, I’ve determined that I cannot wait for the pain to go away if I am serious about forgiveness. I can’t wait because I’ve realized that the answer to the question, “how long will it hurt” is “always, always.”
But how?
LGBT people in general, and LDS LGBT people specifically (I know- so many capital letters!), eventually find themselves orphaned in many ways. Most LGBT people are raised by heterosexual cisgender parents. They don’t grow up with a model by which to learn about queer relationships, queer love, or queer households. Their parents face real limitations when asked about things like sex, dating, or what it is like to be a sexual minority. LDS individuals must also face the fact that there is no place or plan for them in their theology or their religious community. In the most extreme cases, although not entirely uncommon, they are actually cut off by family and friends.
The result is that LGBT people must search for a new adopted family of sorts. One made up of people who do share their experiences and who do have a place for them. We flock to places that are safe for us to be who we are- where we can walk down any street and take the hand of our beloved without hesitation. It provides protection and belonging and affirmation of our equal capacity and desire to love and be loved. And although this can provide a sense of security in which we can build happy lives, many still suffer with feelings of abandonment, much like adopted children often do, even the happiest of homes. The hurt stays with us, always.
A few years ago, I connected with Bobby* on Facebook. We had lots of mutual friends because he too was a gay former-mormon. Eventually, I met him in person when I was visiting New York, where he lived. We met again recently as he was driving though Maryland. Inevitably, we chatted about our common history.
I’ve been trying hard to forgive the institution because I don’t want to feel victimized my entire life— I don't think it is productive and I think it gives the offender power over me. It has proven difficult to do, however, when pain is still being inflicted. As I’ve thought about this dilemma, I’ve determined that I cannot wait for the pain to go away if I am serious about forgiveness. I can’t wait because I’ve realized that the answer to the question, “how long will it hurt” is “always, always.”
But how?
LGBT people in general, and LDS LGBT people specifically (I know- so many capital letters!), eventually find themselves orphaned in many ways. Most LGBT people are raised by heterosexual cisgender parents. They don’t grow up with a model by which to learn about queer relationships, queer love, or queer households. Their parents face real limitations when asked about things like sex, dating, or what it is like to be a sexual minority. LDS individuals must also face the fact that there is no place or plan for them in their theology or their religious community. In the most extreme cases, although not entirely uncommon, they are actually cut off by family and friends.
The result is that LGBT people must search for a new adopted family of sorts. One made up of people who do share their experiences and who do have a place for them. We flock to places that are safe for us to be who we are- where we can walk down any street and take the hand of our beloved without hesitation. It provides protection and belonging and affirmation of our equal capacity and desire to love and be loved. And although this can provide a sense of security in which we can build happy lives, many still suffer with feelings of abandonment, much like adopted children often do, even the happiest of homes. The hurt stays with us, always.
A few years ago, I connected with Bobby* on Facebook. We had lots of mutual friends because he too was a gay former-mormon. Eventually, I met him in person when I was visiting New York, where he lived. We met again recently as he was driving though Maryland. Inevitably, we chatted about our common history.
A photo I took looking up at the bell tower in 2009 |
From Maryland, he continued his trip and stopped by BYU on his way through Utah. He sent a picture of the exact spot he sat in that day in January. He also sent a picture of the 2015 version of the front help-desk guy at the library- where I sat those years ago. I asked how it felt for him to be there now, curious to see whether it was similar to feelings I’ve experienced when I've gone back. Sure enough, it felt the same as it had for me- a strange mix of nostalgia followed by growing anxiety and the slightly frantic desire to get out.
Another from 2009 of a bench just a few feet from where Bobby sat |
We were there during prop 8. We listened to the talks that insisted there was no such thing as gay people- only people with “same-sex attraction.” We grew up in denial of our own reality because we thought we could concur it. It wasn’t a part of our identity- it was simply an attraction, and therefore we could change it. After all, why would God do that to anyone? No reason to talk to anyone about it. After all, it was icky and perverse. We didn’t want people to be disgusted with us and we didn’t want to be shunned or punished— besides, we could overcome it, and it would soon be a non-issue. No problem. We weren't those creeps that people didn’t want their children around— we were return missionaries and BYU students. We were card-carrying believers!
But it was a problem. It was a problem we dealt with practically every day of our lives. It was our normal- our reality. We didn’t know any other way to live. But you can only live in denial for so long. You can only rationalize and pretend for so long. You can only churn those thoughts around so many times in your head. Eventually, you run out of strength, of spirit, and of the emotional ability to go on. And, when that day inevitably comes, your world comes crashing down.
My cousin was recently taken to the hospital. She had an infection from an abscessed tooth. It went bad quickly and required emergency surgery. The thing about these sort of infections, is that they have often been festering for a long period of time. And even though you may not realize it, your body has been constantly pouring resources into fighting it. It isn't until the body can't fight any longer that things get obviously bad. And it isn’t until the infection has been cleared that your renewed energy makes you realize how much of a daily toll the infection had been taking on your body. This is what it is like to grow up gay in Mormonism.
Once you accept yourself and come out of emergency surgery- you are shocked at how much energy you have to devote to other things… to being happy. Life feels worth living for the first time in years because you aren’t constantly battling this hidden festering infection day after tired day. This isn’t just a subtle difference. I remember waking up and feeling something distinctly different. It was hope- something that had eventually faded completely over the years. Immediately, I became aware that all those years of misery were entirely unnecessary. I also learned of many others like me who never make it successfully out of surgery. The infection took them and it was all due to neglect.
We didn’t need to feel so alone all those years. We didn’t need to let the infection fester until it became an emergency. Unlike an abscess, we know in our core who we are. We become aware of our sexuality without anyone’s help or instruction. But the Church made us feel ashamed for who we were. It instructed us and encouraged us to deny it- to make it undetectable. It continues to ensure that queer kids suffer in silence and isolation, even while countless others around them are fighting the same. exact. life-threatening. battle. It is unforgivable. The Church does not deserve forgiveness.
I, however, do deserve it. I deserve the healing that comes when I am able to forgive.
It is said that you cannot have one without the other. You cannot know light if you do not know darkness. You cannot know what softness is if you have never felt hardness. And you cannot know joy without knowing sorrow. Yin and Yang. The price of our high level of self-awareness and creative capacity is the knowledge of our own mortality and eventual destruction. These all come gift-wrapped in the same package.
I will not and cannot forgive the church for those who don’t make it out of the emergency surgery that the neglect and abuse ultimately requires. It is not my responsibility and it is not required for my own healing. But, I can and must forgive the church for the pain it causes in my own life, even while it continues relentlessly to inflict more.
I’m learning that packaged together with the years of intense agony, self-hatred, and painful isolation were years of equally intense joy, self-love, and deep meaningful connection that I have only just begun to experience. The pain can become a part of my healing as I recognize that the equally strong capacity for joy is buried along side it, deep within my being. This is the silver lining that I can and must draw upon for the strength to forgive, because the reality of life is, sometimes the pain never really goes away.
How long will it hurt?
Always, always.
…and thats okay.
Stars shine more brightly when shrouded in the darkest of nights.
*name changed for privacy
Stars shine more brightly when shrouded in the darkest of nights.
*name changed for privacy
Very well written. I always mean to tell you that I read your posts on Facebook and articles a lot, and it means a lot to me. I was struggling with the church while at BYU as well, and I didn't finish my degree because I finally came to a parting point with it all. A big part of my problem with the church is the issues with the church and the LGBT community, but other things have become much more clear since I've stopped attending. I hope the best for you man, keep fighting the good fight.
ReplyDeleteYou are correct - always, always. It has been 30 years since I left that church, but it still hurts. It was a huge mistake for me to come back and live "within the shadow of the everlasting hills" and the culture that still dominates this region. Peace.
ReplyDeleteYou are correct - always, always. It has been 30 years since I left that church, but it still hurts. It was a huge mistake for me to come back and live "within the shadow of the everlasting hills" and the culture that still dominates this region. Peace.
ReplyDeleteDisclaimer: I continue to read and reply to your entries because I identify so much of your journey with my own, and, it's just a natural source and a muse for me to write and channel my own experiences through yours. So thank you for sharing your writing with the world.
ReplyDeleteThoughts: Salman Akhtar in 'objects of desire' writes: "At the heart of nostalgia is the universal tendency to exalt what we have lost. A sense of loss but gain, the vault of amnesia enlists things in the external world as its messengers." I couldn't help but see the picture of the bell tower (let alone the experience of actually standing in front of it years later) as an enlisted item used to kind of dig up buried dirt. What you are saying in a way is that the dirt was never buried, it was flung at you and the mud had remained dry on your face ever since. Journalism and looking back is a way to comb through the dirt and understand it. Whether that's blame or association, it is our attempt to control things as they were, how they are, and how it will be now. I hope it has been a fruitful experience to look back, instead of a catalyst for the pain you cope with daily.
In a way the title of Brene Brown's book "Stop being who others think you should be and start being who you are" comes to mind. I'm thankful BYU is a past tense discussion. My take away isn't so much that you didn't belong there because you weren't a conformer, or whatever the cookie cutter idea the theory is for attendees there etc. But more you didn't belong there, because you were years ahead of others in both understanding your true feelings and how certain abuses of theology were not congruent with them. This in no way excuses or undermines the complete and absolute pain that was inflicted on you there. I am thankful you are no longer in a place where you feel a hundred miles away from someone in the same library as you. I thankful you were able to at least form a springboard (your ex-relationship) that launched you beyond the chapter of discovery and into enlightenment and renaissance.
What continues to happen in our culture is groups of people force us into the trap to go over our lists of identity again and again and re-validate them daily. This underminer question constantly of "Are you sure?" or "If I had done _____ sooner" or "If I had not done ___."
John Haines writes in a publication titled 'Moments and Journeys'. Excerpt: "A place to start from,and something to leave behind. There is the dream journey and the actual life, once true for the Yuma Indians were they combined both, a kind of radiance, a very old and deep assurance that life has continuity and meaning, that things are somehow in place or coming into place, it is the journey resolved/resolving into one endless present." The title of your blog is the paraphrase of this. You aren't at the BYU bell tower anymore. I'm not here to talk down or define or preach, but to observe that the present is a radical acceptance, be it good or bad or levels of both. Whether we feel close or far away, we really are all in it together. Tell anyone who disagrees to try and count the stars. "Life is the only real counselor." ~ Edith Wharton "Can't I just be in the woods without any special reason?" ~ Thomas Merton
Annotation* The line "you aren't at the BYU bell tower anymore" isn't meant to be read as 'get over it' but rather as, 'thank god you aren't and, the joy of that being the fact.'
ReplyDeleteThank you so very much for this. I left the church when I was 16, I am now 46, but to this day still carry the emotional baggage attached to coming out, exiting my faith, and it’s fallout. I follow obsessively all news related to the subject as it pertains to the church. I read absolutely everything. I am still seeking an answer to the question of why. Your writing is the first that I’ve come across that addressed the anger, the rage at the church. Of all of the emotions one inevitably feels as a result of being a gay Mormon, this is the one that I had not once seen acknowledged . How I needed to know that I was not the only one to feel this way. I hope to one day reach the place that you appear to have arrived at so I can then move on and release the dark feelings. Thank you again for letting me feel a little less alone and for pointing me in the right direction.
ReplyDelete